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There's no more spectacular harbinger of spring than an ornamental cherry tree bursting into bloom. After a winter of bare branches come clouds of fluffy, pastel blossoms. Some types produce fruits that attract birds to the garden, and many also have good fall color to end the year with a bang.

When to Plant: FallAt Its Best: SpringTime to Complete: 2 hours

Materials Needed:

cherry tree

stake

tree tie

spade

Choose a Site

Ornamental cherries grow best in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, although they tolerate partial shade and a drier soil once they're established. Make sure there's ample room for the tree to grow because some mature into large trees.

Planting and Staking

Dig a hole the same depth as the rootball and twice as wide. Plant the tree so that its rootball is slightly above the surrounding soil surface. Hammer in a stake angled into the prevailing wind. Attach it to the tree using a flexible, adjustable tree tie.

Variety of Ornamental Cherry Tree

Prunus Shizuka

Aftercare

Water the tree thoroughly after planting, and apply a mulch, keeping it away from the trunk. Water for the first two years. Check the tie often and loosen it if need be. In a couple of years, you can remove the stake because the tree will be fully established.

Top Tip: Pruning

If you choose the right-sized cherry for your garden, the only pruning required will be to remove dead, diseased or damaged growth. If you need to shape your tree, do so after flowering in early summer, because there are fewer diseases then and you won't remove the flower buds.

Next Up

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